A craftsman carves stone during the launch ceremony. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

A themed cruise, called the Minbao cruise, recently set sail from the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal, Fujian province, marking the grand opening of the 2025 autumn-winter cruise season.

The initiative is a collaborative effort by the Fujian Daily, the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal Group and Shanghai Blue Dream Cruise.

At the launch ceremony, the three partners signed a cooperation agreement and appointed what they called "Maritime Silk Road Cultural Ambassadors".

The event highlighted Fujian's rich tea culture and showcased its intangible cultural heritage and local Minnan customs, offering guests an insight into the province's arts and crafts.

The Minbao cruise is a five-day, four-night journey featuring a Maritime Minnan Culture pop-up store on board.

Renowned master craftsmen Hong Binghui, Guo Li and Huang Qingluan demonstrated traditional crafts such as celadon ceramics, cork paintings and wood carvings, allowing passengers to experience the depth and innovation of Fujian culture at sea.

Minnan kung fu tea performances and demonstrations of preparing speciality foods also took place on deck, providing travelers with a real taste of Fujian's rich cultural heritage amid the ocean's vast expanse.

This sailing season, running until November, is the first complete season since the opening of the new terminal at Xiamen International Cruise Homeport.

What's more, the Xiamen Border Inspection Department has rolled out China's first data fusion and comparison system to facilitate rapid customs clearances, enabling speedy and efficient passenger embarkations and disembarkations.

The launch of the Minbao cruise is said to bring new momentum to Xiamen, playing a key role in promoting Maritime Silk Road culture to the world.